Snake causes large power outage to more than 16K Austin Energy customers

AUSTIN, Texas - A large outage knocked out power to more than 16,000 Austin Energy customers in East Austin Tuesday, May 16. 

It happened around 1 p.m.

Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department said the power outage also affected several traffic signals near the intersection of 7th and Chicon.

Around 2 p.m., Austin Energy said the outage was restored to all customers. 

They said a snake slithered into one of the substations and made contact with an electrified circuit, causing the outage.